Australia's foreign minister says he is taking seriously a threat by a group to launch attacks in his country unless it withdraws its troops from Iraq.

But Alexander Downer said his country was "absolutely determined" not to give in to what he called terrorist threats.

The group, calling itself the Islamic Tawhid group and the European branch of al-Qaeda, posted its statement on an Islamic website.

It threatened Australia and Italy with attacks with "columns of rigged cars".

"It is very important we send a strong message that we will not be threatened by terrorist groups," Mr Downer told Australian Nine Network television.

"Terrorist groups will not determine the policy of the Australian government or the Australian people," he added.

'Terrorists encouraged'

Nine Network quoted the group as saying that if Australian
troops are not withdrawn from Iraq "we will shake the ground beneath
your feet as we did in Indonesia, and columns of rigged cars will
not stop".